A developing story from the tour that I haven't seen many people talking about is the "Behavioral Probation" for Anthony Simonsen after his latest incident at the U.S. Open. There's already been a few instances this year of him punching/kicking ball returns and center equipment.

This week during matchplay he forcefully pulled on the scoring keypad unit until it bent the metal pole that it was on. Resulting in the scoring unit now facing upside down and backwards. There is a picture floating around on Facebook.

There was a report that when confronted by center management about this, he (allegedly) apologized and gave them a credit card to "charge him whatever it is to fix it".

A former touring pro stated that "If Simonsen even touches another ball return or center equipment in a forceful manner, there will be an immediate 6 month suspension."


Oof.

Not defending the actions of breaking stuff but I know when I throw a bad shot or I’m pissed at myself Fox would probably come to me and take my mic away right on the approach. I say some harsh stuff to myself that others can’t hear but with a mic that all changes.  I know a few others as well that you would not want to have a mic.

Could you imagine is every professional athlete wore a mic, the amount of cuss words and racial slurs you would hear. IDK why they make bowlers wear mics anyways, they bowl all week without them, then force them to wear on TV when its foreign to them. Granted he should watch what he says, but if the players dont want the mics, they should respect that. Everyone is picking on Anthony, but I'm sure there is alot worse going on out there.

To professional bowlers:

If the people who are putting up the cash for the prize funds say you need to conform to what is socially acceptable, you probably should do it or you might find yourself selling vacuums.

This isn't aimed at any one particular bowler, but all of them.  All of the professionals have a vested interest in how they (as a whole) are perceived, and thus whether or not companies want to spend their sponsorship money on pro bowling or other ventures.


 

You mean selling vacuums full time right because a lot of these pros have part time jobs because the bowling prize funds are a sorry ass joke.  30 grand for a major lmfao.  They offered that in the 1970s (for example 1965 ToC $25000 1st = What cost $25000 in 1965 would cost $205566.00 in 2019).  That said you should be a professional in whatever you do.

Quote from: notclay on February 28, 2020, 08:40:06 AM

To professional bowlers:

If the people who are putting up the cash for the prize funds say you need to conform to what is socially acceptable, you probably should do it or you might find yourself selling vacuums.

This isn't aimed at any one particular bowler, but all of them.  All of the professionals have a vested interest in how they (as a whole) are perceived, and thus whether or not companies want to spend their sponsorship money on pro bowling or other ventures.


 

You mean selling vacuums full time right because a lot of these pros have part time jobs because the bowling prize funds are a sorry ass joke.  30 grand for a major lmfao.  They offered that in the 1970s (for example 1965 ToC $25000 1st = What cost $25000 in 1965 would cost $205566.00 in 2019).  That said you should be a professional in whatever you do.

It is a joke what the earnings are for one tournament.  However; here is a list as to who finished 10th in earnings over the past several years.

2013 - Scott Norton         $94,000
2014 - Ronnie Russell      $84,000
2015 - EJ Tackett             $68,000
2016 - Amleto Monacelli   $84,000
2017 - Sean Rash            $84,000
2018 - Tom Smallwood     $66,000
2019 - Dick Allen             $78,000
2020 - Chris Barnes         $26,400 (after only 6 stops thus far)

While weekly winners are underpaid; what most make in a season is still pretty decent.  Those earnings that I listed do not include things like endorsements, contracts with ball companies, and other tournaments they may bowl in throughout the year.  This has been mentioned before.  But bowling is never going to have the earnings potential that other professional sports offer.  You know Simonsen's career earnings are already almost $600,000 and he is only 23?  Belmo is already at $1.5 Million.

Quote from: BowlingForDonuts on February 28, 2020, 11:42:25 AM

Quote from: notclay on February 28, 2020, 08:40:06 AM

To professional bowlers:

If the people who are putting up the cash for the prize funds say you need to conform to what is socially acceptable, you probably should do it or you might find yourself selling vacuums.

This isn't aimed at any one particular bowler, but all of them.  All of the professionals have a vested interest in how they (as a whole) are perceived, and thus whether or not companies want to spend their sponsorship money on pro bowling or other ventures.


 

You mean selling vacuums full time right because a lot of these pros have part time jobs because the bowling prize funds are a sorry ass joke.  30 grand for a major lmfao.  They offered that in the 1970s (for example 1965 ToC $25000 1st = What cost $25000 in 1965 would cost $205566.00 in 2019).  That said you should be a professional in whatever you do.

It is a joke what the earnings are for one tournament.  However; here is a list as to who finished 10th in earnings over the past several years.

2013 - Scott Norton         $94,000
2014 - Ronnie Russell      $84,000
2015 - EJ Tackett             $68,000
2016 - Amleto Monacelli   $84,000
2017 - Sean Rash            $84,000
2018 - Tom Smallwood     $66,000
2019 - Dick Allen             $78,000
2020 - Chris Barnes         $26,400 (after only 6 stops thus far)

While weekly winners are underpaid; what most make in a season is still pretty decent.  Those earnings that I listed do not include things like endorsements, contracts with ball companies, and other tournaments they may bowl in throughout the year.  This has been mentioned before.  But bowling is never going to have the earnings potential that other professional sports offer.  You know Simonsen's career earnings are already almost $600,000 and he is only 23?  Belmo is already at $1.5 Million.

^pre expenses (travel, hotel, food, $500 entry fees each week, equipment, etc).  Still back on topic even if you are bowling league you don't damage equipment or else you are an asshat.  Never an excuse for it.  Vandalism is a crime.

Quote

Belmo is already at $1.5 Million.

...not exactly the phrasing I would use.  I would say a guy who has spent 11 years as a professional athlete, and along the way won 5 (?) player of the year awards and more majors than anyone in history, is making as much as someone with a good career-type job.  I saw or heard a stat that he's made the show in over forty or fifty percent of the majors he's bowled in his career, and he's still only averaging $150k/year.  Insane.

Will just leave this here (a single tournament total purse worth more than the top 10 earners in PBA history combined) - "Thirty golfers battled it out for the 2019 Tour Championship with a total of $45 million on the line and the winner taking home an almost preposterous $15 million."   Guess should be comparing bowling to croquet or curling instead.

(edit:  LOL - "This is the only international curling event where teams will wear their countries flag and colours with prize money available. A total of $USD 165,000 will be distributed at each of the first three events. This will then rise to $USD 280,000 for the Grand Final.", granted mens and womens I think but still) - 2020 US Open Bowling prize fund = $170,650 oh and curling is in the Olympics lol

(edit2:  Could be worse looks like bowling has Frisbee golf beat for now but nipping on its heels - "Below is the final leaderboard for the United States Disc Golf Championship, featuring the prize money earned. Total payout for MPO reached $93,900, including $44,471 in added cash for 196 competitors, 89 of which received cash. The FPO total payout of $21,945 for 46 players, 20 cashing, included $10,447 in added prize money.  Top Frisbee golf guy has almost half a million in career earnings lol)

These other sports probably don't have an ass clown like Murphy in position of power.

I am guessing with curling a lot of their sponsorship money comes from Molson, Labatt, and other beer companies like it did for bowling in the early days with Budweiser, etc (back when they had decent prize funds).  Curlers from what I hear make bowlers mostly look like light weights as that sport is mostly an excuse to get half drunk with some mates at the lower levels.

(wow maybe not just lower levels lol -
https://www.boston.com/sports/olympics/2018/02/13/canadas-olympic-curlers-brought-their-own-beer
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2018/nov/20/beers-on-ice-canadian-curlers-alcohol-red-deer-classic
https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2018/2/19/17027448/winter-olympics-curling-beer-canada)

Quote from: Bowl_Freak on February 27, 2020, 12:24:18 PM

I remember hearing a PBA guy named Chris Collins

Chris Collins was probably the worst offender of all time. He had psychopathic levels of bad energy around him. With his brother being a high ranking police officer I guess he felt like he had free reign to do whatever he wanted without repercussion in South Carolina. The throw the bowling ball across the parking lot (maybe denting a car or two) was one of his trademarks.

When I lived in Maryland I saw Chris Collins live and in color. His meltdowns are similar to watching a domestic dispute of physical nature. I’ve seen this guy put bowling balls through scoring units and masking units. NO one can match Chris Collins when it comes to tantrums.